Maintenance Free Myth

Posted by & filed under Maintenance.


Sometimes we hear Kent car owners say, “What’s up with all this maintenance stuff? Modern cars just don’t break down.” While it is true that today’s cars and trucks are extremely reliable, they are also becoming increasingly complicated and use more exotic materials than ever before. All that complexity demands higher tolerances for everything. For example, most Kent motorists don’t realize how high tech automotive fluids have become. Fluids like, engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid.

Did you know that a modern engine would not run for more than a few months using motor oil formulas from 30 years ago? Today’s automotive fluids contain a much higher percentage of additives to protect your vehicle’s components from premature wear and corrosion. Time and miles march on for all of our cars. Please don’t think we’re using scare tactics to get you to take care of your maintenance – but here are some personal stories from AutoNetTV staff members to emphasize and show how important it is to get things done when they are due. Names are withheld to avoid embarrassment to those who should know better. Even though they should know better, it usually comes down to real life: time and income. But they are tales of a stitch in time saves nine.

The first comes from a staffer who bought a used pick-up truck for his son. The oil was clean and all the fluids were topped off. A short time later, the truck overheated on a highway in WA and shut down. The repair shop diagnosed the problem: the radiator pan was corroded and dumped the coolant. Even though the coolant level was correct, it was clear that the coolant had never been completely replaced – just topped off from time to time. While this kept the engine cool, all of the anti-corrosion additives had worn out; the coolant became acidic and ate through the radiator pan. The cost: hundred of dollars and four days in the shop. This demonstrates the need to get your coolant exchanged on schedule.

Another story involves the true cost of skipping an annual inspection. Our staffer took his SUV in for the WA safety inspection to renew his registration. At the Kent inspection station, he learned that the law had changed and that his newer rig only required an inspection every two years. He was very happy to save the bucks. The problem was, his rear brake pads were very worn. Two months later, it was bad enough that he could hear the grind – over the radio, DVD player and the kids. He took it in to get the bad news. Both of the rear brake rotors were damaged. The left one could be resurfaced. The right had to be replaced. So saving a little cash on his safety inspection turned into an extra $500 over what brake pad replacement would have been. Moral of the story for Kent car owners: don’t skip your critical annual inspections. The irony is that many Kent service centers would have done a brake inspection for free.

Next: a teenage daughter and a curb. Daddy’s little princess smacked a curb when she turned into a shopping center and popped the tire. The problem came when Dad didn’t get an alignment. The impact was hard enough to ruin the tire – so it was powerful enough wreck the alignment. But instead of an alignment after the first tire, Papa ended up buying a second tire a few months later – and then an alignment.

Situation: son and wife with cars from the same car maker with essentially the same engine. Our staffer checked the son’s maintenance schedule and saw that it needed a timing belt replacement at 90,000 miles/145,000 km. He had it done – it cost several hundred dollars. His wife’s car had about 60,000 miles/97,000 km, so it should be ok for a while. Right? Wrong. The problem was that the wife had the turbo charged version. Its belt was scheduled for replacement at 60,000 mi/97,000 km. At 63,000 mi./101,000 km, the belt snapped on the interstate. The valves all crashed down into the cylinders at high speed and the entire head was shredded and had to be replaced. The cost: several thousand dollars. Does he wish he had checked the vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance schedule? You bet he does – every time he passes a big-screen TV.

The team at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent recommends taking care of little things before they become big things. And when you take care of the little things, you can make your car run better and is more economical to operate in WA. Remember to save those maintenance records. It’ll show potential buyers that you’ve taken care of your vehicle and it will help you get a better price. Or when you buy a used car, check those records. If there aren’t any, assume that the maintenance hasn’t been done and take it to your Burton or Kent service center or Central Avenue Automotive in Kent for an inspection. Take care of unperformed critical routine maintenance sooner rather than later.

Central Avenue Automotive
1514 Central Ave S Ste A
Kent, WA 98032
253.854.6762

How to Manage a Breakdown

Posted by & filed under Battery, Cooling System, Dashboard, Engine, Fluids, Monitoring System.

No matter how well your vehicle is maintained or how new it is, if you drive long enough, you’re probably eventually have to deal with a breakdown. Even if you’re just having one of those days and your car decides to pile it on, these are a few simple tips on how to effectively manage a breakdown.

You should be familiar with your car’s gauges and know what is normal and what isn’t. That way, when the gauges have readings that aren’t normal, you will know something is not right. If you never look at your gauges, you won’t know.

If you’re driving and you begin to feel something strange, see unusual activity on your gauges, smell something that is not normal, or you see a flashing “check engine” light, you should move to the right lane and pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so. You don’t want to be one of those disabled vehicles blocking traffic on the freeway — it’s hazardous to you and other drivers. If you’re close enough to the next exit, try get off the freeway if possible. If that’s not possible, get as far to the right as you can. If you’re on the freeway and it’s not safe, don’t get out of your car. Turn on your hazard lights (or “flashers”) and call for help. Central Avenue Automotive has a 24-hour hotline for help at 253-854-6762, and we’re also certified to provide AAA services.

Manage a Breakdown

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If your vehicle is beginning to overheat, (remember to check your gauges like you check your speedometer), turn on the heater. It might seem counter-intuitive, but it will help cool the engine by drawing heat away from it and into the car’s cabin. Do NOT turn on the air conditioner — it has the opposite effect. Pull over as soon as it’s safe and turn the car off. One of the most costly and damaging things you can do is drive a overheating car.

If your “check engine” light is flashing, pull over as soon as possible, shut the engine down, and have it towed. The light will often turn on and stay lit to indicate that there’s an issue that needs inspection, but when the light is actually flashing, that means there’s a serious problem that needs immediate attention. Don’t ignore it.

If your “low oil pressure” light comes on, this is not typically because the car needs oil, but it still needs to be checked. Driving a car that is low on oil or pressure will damage the engine.

If the “battery” light comes on, this also typically does not mean that you need a new battery. It actually means that your car’s charging system has detected a fault. This issue usually gives you a little more time than more serious issues. When you see that light, turn off all accessories to conserve power and drive to you nearest repair facility. You will usually have about 20 minutes during the day, and 15 minutes at night if you’re using your headlights, which you should be doing.

Above all, you need to do what is safe for you and your car. Remember that relatively speaking, a tow is cheap compared to a new set of catalytic converters, a new engine, or even a new wheel because you drove on a flat tire. Most insurance companies have roadside assistance and AAA for around $80 per year that gives you discounts all over the place and gas if you run out. They will also change that flat or help you if you lock your keys in your car. It’s definitely worth the money.

Hopefully now you feel prepared in the event of a breakdown! Remember, if you’re in the Kent area, you can call on us anytime.

The Real Price of Car Maintenance

Posted by & filed under Maintenance.

I have been asked this question several times over the years: “How much does car maintenance cost? What will save me the most time and money over all the years that I may own this car? Should I wait for it to break down or should I do preventative maintenance?”

Consumer Reports did a study in 2012 on the cost of car ownership would be for the average driver in one year, three year, five year, and eight year time frames.They determined how much money was spent and how it was spent. There are six areas in which the typical car owner spends their money on their car.

  1. Depreciation
  2. Fuel
  3. Interest rate (finance charges)
  4. Insurance
  5. Taxes
  6. Maintenance and repair

The Real Price of Car Maintenance
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When you look at maintenance and repair, you see that only a small fraction (1-6%, depending on time frame) of your total cost of ownership has to do with maintenance. Most cars are under warranty, so any cost the first year would be service work. When you look at the 3-year numbers, that cost goes up to 2%. On year five, it goes to 4% ,and at year eight, it goes to 6% of your total cost for owning that vehicle per year.

As you can see, we would expect that number to grow as the car gets older because of the car’s needs, and because other costs, like taxes and insurance, decrease. Finance charges will likely disappear completely.

When you are looking for a new car, the things to be wary of are PPM (Pre-Paid Maintenance) plans, 2 years of maintenance included, or “lifetime” free oil changes. This may be convenient, but it is the most costly way to pay for maintenance. To prepay for maintenance or to have “free” maintenance just means they’ve rolled the cost into the purchase price, so now you’re paying interest on the cost of maintenance or the cost of the extended warranty.

When you’re faced with a large, expensive repair, the last thing you want to do is say, “I’m just going to buy another car.” If you had a car that was worth $10,000 and the car was eight years old, that means only 6% of the money is being spent on maintenance. If you pay $600 for a repair on your car, that’s often the same amount you’d pay for 1-3 monthly new car payments. It seems like a big cost up front, but think about the long term — if your car is paid for, you’re not making payments. With a new car, it might be smaller payments stretched over time, but you’re still paying much more every year.

People will often see a large repair bill and say that their car’s not worth it. Consider a report performed by the credit agency Experian in 2012 that showed most used cars are financed at 130% of their value. It’s important to understand that a very large portion of the finance cost will be lost due to depreciation. This is why it’s often more advisable financially to keep an older car despite maintenance costs rather than buy new.

Kent Exhaust And Emissions Service

Posted by & filed under Exhaust.

Many Kent motorists don’t realize that there is more to exhaust system maintanance than just tailpipes and mufflers. And if you can see smoke, or if it’s too loud. Exhaust service at a full-service automotive center like Central Avenue Automotive is really a lot more comprehensive these days.

For example, in the U.S., the federal government required catalytic converters for all cars in Kent in 1976 and on-board emission control computers in 1990. WA and federal emissions requirements have forced car makers to come up with much more sophisticated ways to comply with environmental laws. This also goes for cars sold in Canada.

So, exhaust service has really become exhaust and emissions service. High-tech computer-controlled emissions devices are now necessary. And because it’s so sophisticated, auto manufacturers recommend having your emission system checked out by a qualified technician, like the ones we have at Central Avenue Automotive, regularly to make sure everything’s working right – which is usually every six months or 6,000 miles.

If your ‘check engine light’ comes on while you are driving around the Auburn area, especially if it’s flashing, then you need to bring your car into Central Avenue Automotive ASAP. Chances are it’s an emission related problem. Signs of exhaust or emissions trouble include difficulty starting, engine noise or smoke.

So let’s do a quick rundown of the exhaust system for Kent car owners. First up, the exhaust manifold. That’s the part that attaches to the engine and collects the exhaust from the cylinders and directs it into the exhaust pipe.

The exhaust gaskets help seal the connection with the manifold and other joints along the way. Now, if the manifold is cracked or loose, or a gasket is leaking, then dangerous gases could escape into the cabin, where you ride. Carbon monoxide can be deadly, so it’s important that your exhaust system doesn’t leak.

The exhaust pipes connect the various key components. They can rust or be damaged by a rock, so they need to be inspected periodically.

Next comes the catalytic converter. This part actually looks like a muffler. It changes toxic chemicals into harmless carbon dioxide and water. The catalytic converter doesn’t require any maintenance itself for Kent auto owners, but eventually it wears out. If yours has stopped working, you probably won’t discover it until your car fails its WA emissions inspection.

Next, the muffler. The key job of this aptly-named part is to muffle engine noises. Mufflers work by either absorbing or baffling sound. Many Kent auto owners don’t know that you can actually customize your car’s sound with different mufflers – which is pretty cool because in addition to changing the look of your ride, you can also customize its sound!

Rusted or road-damaged mufflers can actually leak and they need to be replaced right away. The exhaust system is attached to the car by a series of hangers and clamps that hold the system in place. And when these hangers come loose or break then hot exhaust components can touch and melt wires, hoses and lines. Just think of how dangerous a hot curling iron can be – but worse. It’s not good to have that waving around. Talk to your considerate Central Avenue Automotive service advisor.

And finally, we end at the tailpipe. Appropriate name. This is the final outlet for the exhaust. And one other component is the oxygen sensor. It monitors the oxygen content of the exhaust so the engine-control computer can adjust the key fuel-to-air mix to keep the car running right.

We hope this hasn’t been too ‘exhausting’ of a discussion. Remember that a properly functioning exhaust system is vital for Kent motorists’ health and safety. Talk with your considerate service professional at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent if you think you might need a diagnostic examination of your exhaust system. A quick look can sure save a lot of pain down the road.

Auto Tips Videos provided for Central Avenue Automotive by AutoNetTV.

Keep Your Kent Car Breathing Free: Engine Air Filter

Posted by & filed under Maintenance.


Hey Kent auto owners – this is something really amazing: For every gallon of gas your SUV burns, it uses 12,000 gallons of air. All of that air has to be filtered to keep your engine clean.

That’s like a hundred gallons of air every block! The engine air filter is just another example of a very essential but inexpensive part that has to do a tremendous amount of work. And when it works, everything goes well. But, when it doesn’t, well, it can lead to pricey problems. Of course, your auto maker recommends how often to change your air filter. But like most service intervals, where and how you drive your car in WA affects when your filter needs to be changed.

Dusty conditions around Auburn or polluted city driving means you’ll need to change your filter more often. Your considerate Central Avenue Automotive tech can check your filter for you. In fact, it’s often a routine part of an oil change.

When you think about it, a clogged air filter won’t allow as much air through as a clean filter. Your SUV needs this air to efficiently burn its fuel, giving you better fuel economy and performance.

Dirtier filters don’t work as well as clean ones. A filter can only hold so much, after that, it allows dirt to pass right into your engine. Air filters come in all shapes and sizes. They also come in different grades. There are high performance air filters available for most cars. These high performance filters are a little more pricey in Kent, but they increase horsepower and may improve fuel economy to boot.

So it’s important for Kent motorists to have their air filter checked. If it needs replacing, it doesn’t cost very much at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent and it should easily pay for itself in better gas mileage before your next oil change.

Stop by Central Avenue Automotive at 1514 Central Ave S Ste A, Kent, WA 98032, and we’ll take a look at your air filter for you. Feel free to give us a call at 253.854.6762 to make an appointment.

Central Avenue Automotive
1514 Central Ave S Ste A
Kent, WA 98032
253.854.6762

Engine Air Filter From Central Avenue Automotive

Posted by & filed under Fuel System.


Many Kent motorists have found themselves in the following situation: they go to get their oil changed and their considerate Central Avenue Automotive technician recommends a new engine air filter. They say yes, but don’t know what an air filter is or what it does.

If this has happened to you, rest assured that you did the right thing by getting a new one. But you should never be too embarrassed to ask your Central Avenue Automotive service specialist for more information. It’s your bucks and you have a right to understand what you’re paying for.

Let’s review: “What does an air filter do??”:

Air is the focus of this discussion. What is the air like outside in Kent right now? Can you see any smog? Is it full of pollen? How about dust? Anyone in WA with hay fever can tell you that there’s plenty in the air that you can’t see. Well, the engine air filter’s vital job is to clean that air before it goes into your SUV engine, to mix with the fuel and be burned. Without an engine air filter, the inside of your SUV engine would be extremely dirty from all the gunk that was burned in the cylinders.

In fact, for every gallon of gas you burn, your SUV engine needs 12,000 gallons of air. That little filter does a very big job. It’s no wonder that the air filter gets dirty and needs to be replaced. Think about a vacuum cleaner. When the bag gets full of dust and dirt, the vacuum doesn’t clean as well. It can’t move enough air to create good suction. A clogged engine air filter is the same way – the SUV engine can’t get enough air to burn the fuel efficiently. That means less power and reduced gas mileage.

That’s why your vehicle manufacturer has recommended that you change your filter at regular intervals. Of course the Kent conditions you drive in will affect how quickly the filter gets dirty. If you drive in WA where it’s very dusty or where there’s lots of pollen or pollution, you may need to change the filter sooner. The filter is easy to check visually, so your considerate Central Avenue Automotive service professional can quickly make the call. He might recommend immediate replacement, or simply let you know that it is getting close and that you’ll need to replace it soon – like at your next oil change.

Because a severely dirty SUV air filter hurts your fuel efficiency, many Kent car owners find that a new air filter pays for itself in better gas mileage before the next oil change. They also make premium air filters that have been proven to increase your horsepower and torque. If more power is important to you, a high performance air filter is some of the cheapest horsepower you can buy.

The better your car breathes, the better it runs – kind of like Kent people. And don’t worry – if you have a question or don’t understand a recommendation just ask your Central Avenue Automotive tech.

1514 Central Ave S Ste A
Kent, WA 98032
253.854.6762

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Wheel Bearings

Posted by & filed under Tires and Wheels.

Why are wheel bearings vital for Kent motorists? It’s simple: your wheel bearings keep the wheels on your vehicle. In today’s Central Avenue Automotive post, we’ll discuss more about wheel bearings and how you can make sure they can do their very essential job while you drive around Federal Way, WA.

Come see us at: 1514 Central Ave S Ste A in Kent, WA 98032

Wheel bearings are pretty simple parts. They’re made of high quality steel and are engineered to last 100,000 miles or more if properly cared for. The bearings do two key jobs: First, they allow the wheel to freely rotate with as little friction as possible. Second, they support the weight of the vehicle. For example, if your car weighs 3,600 pounds, each wheel has to support approximately 900 pounds. That’s a lot of heavy lifting over many, many thousands of miles.

Even though wheel bearings are pretty straightforward, they need to be in near perfect condition to do their job for Kent motorists. The bearings are packed with heavy grease to lubricate and protect them. A seal keeps the grease in and water and dirt out. It’s when the seal starts to leak that problems begin. The grease can become contaminated; causing the wheel bearings to overheat and ultimately fail.

The first sign that your wheel bearings are in trouble is an unusual noise coming from a wheel. It could be a chirping, growling, rumbling or a cyclic sound. The noise could get louder or even disappear at certain speeds. Your tech at Central Avenue Automotive can inspect for bearing wear by lifting the vehicle and checking for play in the wheel.

Now some wheel bearing assemblies are factory sealed. That means that they cannot be serviced – they can only be replaced. Those that aren’t sealed can be serviced on schedule at Central Avenue Automotive. The bearings are removed, cleaned and inspected. If the bearings are still good, they’re re-installed – if not, they’re replaced. They are then packed in grease and a new seal is installed.

If your vehicle has a factory sealed wheel bearing assembly, the entire assembly needs to be replaced when trouble arises. Unfortunately, the parts are pretty pricey – but they usually last about 150,000 miles as long as the seals hold up.

Now, even a good seal cannot keep out water that’s exerting pressure on the seal. So if you’ve driven through hub deep water your bearings should be cleaned and repacked if they’re serviceable. If you have factory sealed bearings, you just need to watch for signs of premature failure. If your wheel bearings can be serviced, your car maker’s owner’s manual will recommend an interval, usually around 30,000 miles.

If you have any sort of trailer, don’t forget its wheel bearings. They probably need to be serviced even more frequently. This is especially true for boat trailers that are used to launch the boat by backing it into the water. These should be serviced every year, usually at the end of the season so that the bearings don’t have the opportunity to rust all winter.

So what happens to Kent drivers if wheel bearings fail? Well, the wheel can literally fall off the vehicle. I don’t need to tell you how harmful that could be. So check with your service advisor at Central Avenue Automotive and see if your vehicle’s wheel bearings can be serviced and when it’s recommended. Listen for warning signs. If you’ve been fording streams or puddle surfing after rainstorms, be especially vigilant.

Visit the automotive professionals at Central Avenue Automotive for a wheel bearing inspection, or for headlamp service. Call 253.854.6762 for an appointment.

6 Questions to Ask Any Auto Shop

Posted by & filed under Service Standards.

The best thing to do when you’re looking for a shop is pay them a visit so you can see the facility. Make sure it’s clean and that the people working there are friendly and knowledgeable. Once you’re at the shop, there are 6 simple questions to ask. You can do this over the phone, but I think you miss the personal impression, and that in itself will sometimes tell you everything you need to know.

Keep in mind that one of the most misused methods of selecting an auto shop is to choose one based on price alone. It’s a common practice for shops to have strategies in place to give you just enough information to get you in the door, which means their estimates will be inaccurate. How can they give you an accurate estimate if they haven’t even seen or assessed your car?

6 Questions for Your Auto Shop
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That’s why these six questions are so important to ask.

1. What is your Warranty?
At Central Avenue Automotive, our Warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles on parts and labor, whichever comes first. Respectable auto shops will be happy to provide a warranty on their work.

2. Do you have a Guarantee?
At Central Avenue Automotive, we guarantee that we will fix your car and treat you like family and friends. Our people will always treat you and your car with respect. We guarantee that the technicians who are working on your car have at least 5 years’ experience, and 90% of the staff has over 20 years of experience.

3. Are your technicians ASE certified?
Every technician at Central Avenue Automotive is ASE certified. ASE technicians are incredibly well-trained. Even after they get out of school or their apprentice program, they still attend 8 hours of training every quarter.

4. Do you provide a free customer shuttle?
At Central Avenue Automotive, we provide customer shuttles to and from work or home. We know you need help when you car is out of commission, so we make it our mission to help you. A good repair shop should be able to provide you some help and options — your car repair shouldn’t put your life on hold.

5. Does this shop benefit the community?
Everyone who works in our shop also lives in the community. We support Kent Little League, Kent Lake High School, Kent Youth Soccer Association, Auburn Youth Soccer Association, and Kent Communities’ in schools. We mentor graduating seniors who want to go into the automotive field. We also support many other local programs, because this community is where our families live, too.

6. What happens if you are closed?
At Central Avenue Automotive, we are available 24/7 with towing and roadside assistance, as well as 24-hour online appointment scheduling. We also offer a night drop form if you have to drop off your car outside of normal business hours.

These are the 6 simple questions to ask to help you find a quality repair shop.

Fuel System Cleaning at Central Avenue Automotive for Better Performance

Posted by & filed under Fuel System.

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Hi Kent motorists. Let’s talk fuel injectors. A fuel injector is a valve that delivers fuel to a vehicle’s engine. It has to deliver the precise amount of fuel, to precisely the right place, precisely when the engine needs it. The fuel also has to be mixed with air before it can burn in the engine.

Fuel injectors are engineered to spray fuel in a specific pattern into the engine. (The pattern varies by engine type and design.) In order to achieve these spray patterns, the fuel must be pressurized.

The pressure in a fuel injection system varies depending on its type. Many gasoline SUV engines use port injection systems, which operate with a pressure of 60 pounds per square inch. Newer direct injection systems operate at 10 to 30 times that pressure. Some diesel passenger vehicles have fuel injectors that operate at 30,000 pounds or more per square inch.

Fuel System Cleaning at Central Avenue Automotive for Better PerformanceVehicles have one fuel injector for each cylinder in the engine. Your vehicle’s control computer constantly monitors the engine and various sensors in the vehicle and adjusts the fuel injectors accordingly so that they can deliver the proper amount of fuel to the engine. As you can see, fuel injectors are a sophisticated and vital part of your vehicle’s engine. Because fuel injectors are such precision instruments, dirt and contaminants are a serious detriment to their performance. When an injector gets gummed up, it affects the pressure, pattern and timing of the fuel delivery. The result is a decrease in fuel efficiency and loss of engine performance for Kent car owners.

So it’s to Kent car owners’ advantage to keep their fuel injectors clean. That starts with keeping the fuel in your tank clean. High-quality fuel contains detergents and additives that help clean your engine. Brand-name fuel companies also deliver a more consistent quality of fuel to Kent motorists than do bargain Auburn area service stations.

The second way to keep your injectors clean is to keep your fuel filter clean. This filter screens dirt and rust out of the fuel as it travels from the tank to the engine. If the filter clogs up, fuel will bypass it and carry its load of dirt into the engine.

Kent car owners should check their owner’s manual to find out how often they should change their fuel filter. This should be part of your regular preventive maintenance. Also, remember that if you use bargain-brand or low-grade fuels, or if you drive an older vehicle between Kent, Federal Way and Burton , your filter will need to be changed more often.

You can also purchase cleaners at Central Avenue Automotive that will protect your fuel injectors. These cleaners are added to the fuel tank. They work best at preventing build-up in your fuel injectors and can clean up small amounts of carbon, gum and varnish. But they won’t be able to clean a fully gummed-up injector. Read the labels before using any of these products for full directions on their use. If your fuel injectors are gummed up, you can get a professional deep cleaning service at Central Avenue Automotive in Kent that will result in better fuel efficiency and improved vehicle performance.

Good car care will prevent serious damage to your fuel injector system. And this is one system that you want to keep in perfect condition.

How to Find a Good Auto Repair Shop

Posted by & filed under Service Standards.

Probably the most important thing that you can do when you’re looking for a good service and repair shop is to speak with your friends. If you’re new to the area, then speak to your co-workers or to people that you may go to church with.

Speak to auto parts store employees. A lot of people don’t realize that their local auto parts store is a great resource.

The local NAPA or CARQUEST people are going to know who the good shop owners are in town. They are the places that refer customers who have had their check engine light looked at, or who they’ve sold an O2 sensor to and the issue is still not fixed, and the customer isn’t sure what to do.

Good Auto Repair in Kent WA

Another great resource is Google. Just take a look and read online reviews. Read 5, 10, 15, or 20 customer reviews and you’ll get a feel for how the shop operates and how they’re viewed within the community.

Check with the Chamber of Commerce. The Better Business Bureau is another great resource.

Also take a look at the shop’s website and at the staff bios. Go in and pay them a visit. Get the free consultation.

Trust your gut. Look at the shop. Is it clean? Are the service advisers friendly? Are the technicians certified? These are all questions you should ask.

Any high-quality shop is going to be happy to show you their technician certifications and is going to be happy to really show themselves off, because they’re proud of what they’re doing and how they conduct their day-to-day business. They’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.

AAA is another great resource. They really put auto shops through a litmus test of checking on them to make sure that they’re a quality shop. I know that AAA of Washington goes the extra mile to make sure that before they give a stamp of approval on a shop, they take a sample of customers. They’ll actually call customers to see what they’ve had done. AAA tours the facility and knows what kind of quality shop it is, and sees that they have the right equipment. They also demand that in order to be an AAA-approved shop, you have to employ technicians that are certified in the areas that you repair.

Those are some of the quickest, easiest, and most effective ways to find a good shop in whatever area of the country that you live in, but probably the best way to find a shop is by referral. Again, talk to your friends, family, and your neighbors.